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Denver invites immigrant children from border

Kyle Clark, KUSA 9:52 p.m. MDT July 17, 2014

Denver Human Services is asking the federal government for grant money to house some of the immigrant children who entered the United States illegally in a wave overwhelming border facilities.(Photo: KUSA)

DENVER – Denver Human Services is asking the federal government for grant money to house some of the immigrant children who entered the United States illegally in a wave overwhelming border facilities.

The city is applying for a grant to be used to convert its residential treatment facility, the Family Crisis Center, in part or in whole into housing for immigrant kids.

The facility, near West 10th Avenue and Federal Boulevard, has bedrooms, classrooms and a dining hall.

"It would be perfect," said Denver Department of Human Services spokeswoman Ana Mostaccero.

The federal government has struggled to find communities willing to house the immigrant children from Mexico and Central America. The feds expect 90,000 such children to enter the United States by year's end.

DDHS' Family Crisis Center has 54 beds.

"We have this facility that isn't being utilized at capacity so we thought it would be a good way to help with an impending crisis," Mostaccero said.

Protests have greeted attempts to resettle immigrant children in California and Arizona. Political leaders across the country have spoken out expressing concern or even flat out refusing to accommodate the immigrants in their communities.

DDHS acknowledged the existence of the plan following a leaked memo first obtained by conservative talk radio host Ken Clark.

Mostaccero said she was not aware of any discussions about potential pushback from the community.